Butter cartons and the like



March 7, 1967 L. s. WYSOCKI BUTTER CARTONS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 26, 1965 INVENTOR 1444/90/65 5 Wysocm BY Y L rm TTORNEYshape.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,307,770 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 3,307,770BUTTER CARTONS AND THE LIKE Lawrence S. Wysocki, Chicago, Ill., assignorto Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation ofMinnesota Filed July 26, 1965, Ser. No. 474,605 Claims. (Cl. 229--51)This invention relates to an improvement in cartons for butter and thelike and deals particularly with a carton which may be easily opened andreclosed.

Butter, oleomargarine, and the like is often packaged in rectangularwrapped sticks of product, each of which normally contains one-quarterpound of the product. The product is then enclosed in an outerrectangular coated carton which is often heat sealed in closed position.As it is desirable to tightly seal the cartons to preserve the productuntil it is used, difficulty is often encountered in opening thecartons. If aknife is used to separate the closing flaps, care must betaken not to puncture the wrapped product within the carton. Normallyone stick of the product is removed at a time, and with the usual sealedcartons, there is no way to reclose them effectively once they have beenopened.

It has been found that by forming a carton in the form of a rectangulartube having overlapping front panels, and closure flaps on all of thepanels, folded to form side wall closures, with the closure flapsattached to the top or cover panel folded outwardly of the other flapsand the front panel attached to the top or cover panel lying outwardlyof the front panel attached to the bottom panel, an effective packagefor the product may be formed. Furthermore, by providing weakened linesof separation extending across the top panel closure flaps and a scoreline extending across thetop panel connecting the ends of the weakenedline, a hinged lid may be provided which may be readily swung into openposition. By attaching the closure flaps of the outer front panel to theportions of the top wall closure flaps forwardly of the weakened lines,the hinged lid maintains its angular By leaving the closure flaps on theinner front wall panel freeof attachment with the other closure flaps,the inner front wall may be folded forwardly to further increase thesize of the opening.

A feature of one form of construction of the invention lies in theprovision of a'carton having a pair of closure flaps hingedly connectedto the top panel and having a front panel hinged to the top panel andlying outwardly of the inner front wall panel of the carton. A pair ofweakened lines of separation extend across these closure flaps from theforward corners of the closure flaps at the lower edges thereof to apoint spaced from the forward end of the cover panel. A fold lineconnects the end of the weakened lines of separation, extending acrossthe cover panel parallel to the forward edge thereof. By tearing theflanges along the weakened lines of separation, a lid having generallytriangular side walls is produced which may be swung up to reveal thecontents.

A feature of a modified form of construction of the carton lies in thefact that the diagonal weakened lines of separation may extenddiagonally upwardly from a point spaced from the forward end of thecarton to produce, when opened, a larger opening to simplify the removalof the carton contents.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings, forming a part of the specification,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carton in closed condition.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carton in partially openedposition.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the carton in fully opened position.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton isformed.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of carton in closedposition.

FIGURE 6 is a view of a similar carton in open position.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view from which the carton of FIGURES 5 and 6is formed.

The carton is illustrated in general by the letter A. As indicated inthe drawings, the carton includes a front panel 10, a bottom panel 11, arear panel 12, a top panel 13, and a front cover panel 14, the panelsbeing connected along parallel fold lines 15, 16, 17, and 19. As will beunderstood, the description of the various panels is merely to orientthe panels as they are illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3 of the drawings. Inother words, the carton is often used in an erect position where thepanel 12 forms the bottom panel. The front wall 10 is provided atopposite ends with a pair of closure flaps or corner flaps 20, the flaps20 being connected to the panel along a pair of parallel fold lines 21and 22. As indicated, the flaps 20 are preferably rounded as indicatedat 23, the center of curvature being substantially at the juncture ofthe fold lines 21, 22, and 15. When the carton is erect, this center ofcurvature is substantially aligned with the fold line 15 connecting thepanels 10 and 11. The bottom panel 11 is provided with closure flaps 24.The rear wall 12 is provided with corner flaps or closure flaps 25 whilethe top panel 15 is provided with closure flaps 26. The flaps 24, 25,and 26 are foldably connected to their respective panels alongextensions of the fold lines 21 and 22.

The top panel 13 is provided with a transverse fold line 27 extending atright angles to the fold lines 21 and 22 and connecting the same.Perforated lines or other weakened lines of separation 29 extenddiagonally from the ends of the fold line 27 to the end edges 30 of theflaps 26. The outer ends of the weakened lines 29 terminate in closelyspaced relation to the end edges 31 of the flaps 26. v

The cover front panel 14 is connected along extensions of the fold lines21 and 22 to substantially triangular closure or corner flaps 32. Thecorner flaps 32 are of approximately the same shape as thearea of theclosure flaps 26 lying between the diagonal weakened lines 29, the flapedges 31 and the fold lines 21, 22. The corner flaps 32 are latersecured in face contact with those triangular areas of the flaps 26.

A pair of spaced score lines 33 may extend across the cover front panel14 at right angles to the fold lines 21, 22. These score lines tend tostiffen the panel 14 and to prevent the flange from bulging outwardly.

In the closing of the cartons, the cartons may be folded into tubularform, usually about the product; until the cover panel 14 lies outwardlyof and in surface contact with the inner front panel 10. If desired,heat and pressure may be provided to lightly seal these two panelstogether, although this is not necessary.

The flaps 20 and 25 are next folded into a common plane, the flap 24holded to overlie the flaps 20 and 25, the flaps 32 folded to lieoutwardly of the flaps 24, and heat and pressure supplied to adhere theflaps 26 to the underlying flaps 24 and 32.

When it is desired to open the carton, the paperboard is split along theweakened lines 29 and the portion of the cover panel 13 which is betweenthe fold lines 19 and 27, together with the cover front panel 14, cornerflaps 32, and the triangular areas of the flaps 26, provide (J a lidwhich may be folded back in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 of thedrawings.

The distance between the fold lines 19 and 27 preferably exceeds onequarter the width of the top panel 13 so that an entire stick of productis visible when the carton is used to contain butter or oleomargarine.If it is preferred, the front panel 14 may be swung down into the planeof the bottom panel 13 as indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings toprovide better access to the contents.

The carton B which is illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 7 of the drawingsis virtually identical to the structure previously described with theexception of the fact that the carton B is provided with a largerdispensing opening. Cartons B are of the type used for containing sixrectangular sticks of product in side-by-side relation, rather than thefour sticks of product contained in carton A.

The carton B includes a front panel 35, a bottom panel 36, a rear panel3'7, and a top panel 39 which are connected along parallel fold lines40, 41, and 42,. A cover front panel 43 is hingedly connected to theforward edge of the top panel 39 along a fold line 44. Closure flaps areconnected to all of the panels along a pair of parellel fold lines 45and 46 which intersect the previouslydescribed fold lines at rightangles.

The front panel 35 is provided with a pair of closure flaps 47. Thebottom panel 36 is provided with closure flaps 49. The rear wall panel37 is provided with a pair What is claimed is:

1. A carton for butter and the like including:

an inner front panel, a bottom panel, a rear wall panel, a top panel,and an outer front wall panel hingedly connected along parallel foldlines,

closure flaps hingedly connected to opposite side edges of said panels,v,

the closure flaps on said outer front panel being folded outwardly ofthe closure flaps on said bottom panel and inwardly of said closureflaps of said top panel,

said closure flaps on said top panel being secured in face contact tothe exposed area of said bottom panel closure flaps and to said outerfront wall closure flaps,

weakened lines of separation extending across said top panel closureflaps from top to bottom thereof beyond the ends of said outer frontpanel closure flaps, and

a fold line extending across said top panel connecting the upper ends ofsaid weakened lines and parellel to the lines of fold connecting saidtop panel to said rear wall panel and said outer front wall panel.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which the areas of said top panelclosure flaps forwardly of said weakened lines are of substantiallytriangular shape, and said outer of closure flaps 50. The top panel 39is provided with a pair of closure flaps 51. The cover front panel 43 isprovided with a pair of corner flaps 52.

The top panel 39 is divided into two sections 53 and 54 by a fold line55 which extends across the panel 39 at right angles to the fold lines45 and 46. A pair of weakened lines of separation 56 extend diagonallyacross the closure flaps 51, the weakened lines 56 being inclined towardthe forward ends of the flaps 51. The front flange 43 may be providedwith a pair of score lines 57 extending thereacross. The weakened lines56 divide the flaps 51 into two substantially trapezoidal areas.

In forming the carton B, the flaps 47 and 50 are folded into a commonplane and the bottom wall flaps 49 are folded outwardly thereof. Thecorner flaps 52 are then folded to overlie the ends of the flaps 49. Theclosure flaps 51 are then folded over the exposed area of the flaps 49and the entire area of the corner flaps 52 and are secured in thisposition.

While the cartons have been described as being heat sealed together,obviously an adhesive could be used if it were preferred. It should benoted that in both forms of construction, the inner front panel closureflaps 20 and 47 project beyond the periphery of the outer front wallpanel, permitting the individual folding of these flaps.

When it is desired to open the cartons B, it is only necessary to ripthe closure flaps 51 along the weakened lines 56 at which time theforward portion 54 of the top panel 39, together with portions of theclosure flaps 51, the front cover flange 43, and the corner flaps 52 mayform a lid which may be folded to expose the contents.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation'of my improvement in cartons for butterand the like; while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodimentthereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be madewithin the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of my invention.

front wall closure flaps are similarly shaped.

3. The structure of claim 1 and in which the areas of said top panelclosure flaps forwardly of said weakened lines are substantiallytrapezoidal in shape.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which the rear panel closure flapsand the inner front panel closure flaps lie inwardly of said bottompanel closure flap.

5. A carton for Butter and the like including:

an inner front panel, a bottom panel, a rear wall panel,

a top panel, and an outer front panel hingedly connected along parallelfold lines,

closure flaps hingedly connected to opposite side edges of said panels,the closure flaps on said outer front panel being folded outwardly ofthe closure flaps on said bottom panel and inwardly of said closureflaps of said top panel,

said closure flaps on said top panel being secured in face contact tothe exposed area of said bottom panel closure flaps and to said outerfront wall closure flaps,

rear panel closure flaps and inner front panel closure flaps lyinginwardly of said bottom panel closure flaps,

said inner front panel closure flaps having an arcuate edge, the centerof arcuation being substantially aligned with the line of foldconnecting said front panel to said bottom panel,

weakened lines ofseparation extending across said top panel closureflaps from top to bottom thereof beyond the ends of said front panelclosure flaps, and

a fold line extending across said top panel connecting the upper ends ofsaid weakened lines and parallel to the lines of fold connecting saidtop panel to said rear wall panel and said outer front wall panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 340,904 4/ 1886Auchterlonie. 2,801,785 8/1957 Manizza 229-36 X 2,980,316 4/1961 Butteryet al 229--51 X 3,108,733 10/1963 Tyrseck et al 20657 X 3,144,191 8/1964 Saidel 229-S 1 X GEORGE O, RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. A CARTON FOR BUTTER AND THE LIKE INCLUDING: AN INNER FRONT PANEL, ABOTTOM PANEL, A REAR WALL PANEL, A TOP PANEL, AND AN OUTER FRONT WALLPANEL HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG PARALLEL FOLD LINES, CLOSUR FLAPSHINGEDLY CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID PANELS, THE CLOSUREFLAPS ON SAID OUTER FRONT PANEL BEING FOLDED OUTWARDLY OF THE CLOSUREFLAPS ON SAID BOTTOM PANEL AND INWARDLY OF SAID CLOSURE FLAPS OF SAIDTOP PANEL, SAID CLOSURE FLAPS ON SAID TOP PANEL BEING SECURED IN FACECONTACT TO THE EXPOSED AREA OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL CLOSURE FLAPS AND TOSAID OUTER FRONT WALL CLOSURE FLAPS, WEAKENED LINES OF SEPARATIONEXTENDING ACROSS SAID TOP PANEL CLOSURE FLAPS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM THEREOFBEYOND THE ENDS OF SAID OUTER FRONT PANEL CLOSURE FLAPS, AND A FOLD LINEEXTENDING ACROSS SAID TOP PANEL CONNECTING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAIDWEAKENED LINES AND PARALLEL TO THE LINES OF FOLD CONNECTING SAID TOPPANEL TO SAID REAR WALL PANEL AND SAID OUTER FRONT WALL PANEL.